The present Chicago Elevated Railroads are an amalgamation of the four systems which up to 1911 were operated as independent lines. Under the unified system of operation a single fare takes the passenger from one end of the system to the other, except that north of Howard Street on the Evanston line an additional fare is collected. The longest continuous ride without change is from Wilmette to Jackson Park, a distance of 24 miles.

The first elevated road, afterward known as the South Side Elevated, started operation in June, 1892, with steam engines. After the successful demonstration on the Intramural Railway this line was electrified; all steam equipment being withdrawn in 1898.

What is now the Chicago and Oak Park Elevated Railroad began operation in 1893 also with steam locomotives. Electrical operation began in September, 1896.

The Metropolitan West Side was originally planned for steam locomotive operation, but developments in electric traction during the construction period were so rapid that orders for steam equipment were cancelled and operation began in May, 1895, with electric equipment.

The Northwestern Elevated began operation in May, 1900, and was planned as an electric rad from the start. In 1897 the “Union Loop” was built to facilitate interchange of passengers from the different lines, but a separate fare was required on each road up to 1913.

The population served by the Chicago Elevated Lines is estimated at more than 1,000,000 people; the total number of passengers handled annually is about 190,000,000. Trains of from six to eight cars are operated during rush hour service on a two-minute headway with a maximum of 72 trains per hour on a track of the loop. Plans are being made to extend some of the station platforms to permit the use of more than 6- and 8-car trains.

An extensive program of improvements to the present rapid transit system has been proposed, but no definite steps have yet been taken toward authorizing the work. These plans include a subway section under the present loop district with several additional elevated lines.

PRESENT MILEAGE OF CHICAGO ELEVATED LINES

Power Supply

The power for the early elevated lines was derived from engine-driven direct-current power plants all of which have since become obsolete. All power, therefore, is supplied from the network of the Commonwealth Edison Co., which maintains an ample reserve to supply all needs. While a large percentage of the power now being purchased is generated at 25 cycles, the policy of the Power Co. on all new equipment is to specify 60 cycles.

Substations

12 out of the 32 substations supplying the various traction systems are owned and operated by the Commonwealth Edison Co. and only 60-cycle generating equipment is installed when adding to their present capacity.

The several substations contain synchronous converter units ranging in size from 1000 to 4000 kw. each. The preferred size for new 60-cycle substations is the 3000-kw. unit of which there are now five in service. The following table shows the ownership and gross capacity of the substation equipment for all of the Chicago lines. It is not possible on account of the diversity of feeding arrangement to designate any particular stations as belonging exclusively to the elevated lines.

SUBSTATIONS—CHICAGO TRACTION SYSTEMS

The Northwestern Elevated R.R. has on order a complete 2000-kw. automatic substation from the General Electric Co. to be installed at Buena Park. This is the first application of the automatic to Metropolitan Rapid Transit service.

Distribution

Energy for elevated train operation is fed to the third-rail shoes at 600 volts. The third rail is of the top contact unprotected A.S.C.E. rail varying in size from 40 to 80 lb.

Rolling Stock

The rolling stock equipment includes a total of 1008 two-motor cars weighing from 22 to 35 tons each, the latter figure representing the more recent types of cars. The distribution of these cars among the four divisions is as follows:

In addition to the motor cars there are available for use on the several divisions about 660 coaches which can be used as trailers.

Supplemental to the regular elevated service the Chicago Elevated System affords entrance to the business section of the city to the Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee R.R. an affiliated line operating a high speed interurban service between Chicago and Milwaukee. This line enters from the north operating over the Northwestern division at Evanston.

Connection is also made at Des Plaines at the end of the Garfield Park Branch with the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin R.R., a high-speed third-rail line reaching Aurora, Elgin, Batavia, Geneva and other points west. These trains also enter the city running over the Metropolitan West Side tracks into the loop district.